major: Interdisciplinary Studies

Major Requirements (36 credits)

Theme-Based Interdisciplinary Studies (36 credits)

A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required to be admitted and to graduate with of the Interdisciplinary Major. IDS requires an approved plan be on file. All major coursework requires a "C" or higher. No more than 12 credits from this major can be used to complete another major or minor. Students in this major must successfully complete a proposal for entry into the major.

IDS3053 Intro to Interdisciplinary Inq (3 Credits)

SELECT 33 CREDITS

In addition to IDS 3053 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry, select eleven (33 credits additional upper-division (3000-4000 level) courses, at least five (15 credits) of which must be from the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS). Courses should be significant to the program theme and approved by the program director as part of the proposal process. Students choosing a faculty-curated path in the program are recommended but not required to take IDS3053 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry (but must still have 36 credits for the major) and should consult the faculty-curated path and their advisor for course selection.

IDS 4890 Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone (0-1 credits)

At the end of their program, students will complete a capstone experience, which should involve one of the following options. All Capstone projects must be approved by the program director. Students completing capstone projects 1 or 2 that involve significant reflective or summative components should take IDS 4890 for 0 credits, to mark the completion of the requirement on their transcript. Students completing capstone projects 1 or 2 without significant reflective/summative components, or students completing capstone project 3, should take IDS 4890 for 1 credit, which will present them the opportunity to synthesize their interdisciplinary theme and coursework in relation to their learning and goals. Capstone Options include:

Minor Required

A minor is required for this major.* (Credits will vary)

The minor must be selected from the list of approved minors, including those outside the college of the major. See List of Minors in the Undergraduate Catalog. Minors are generally completed during the last 60 credit hours of your program. Your minor may require prerequisites, so choosing a minor early is beneficial. See your Advisor to declare a minor.

*Double majors are exempt from a minor.

Foreign Language/Foreign Cultures

Foreign Language (8 CHs)/Foreign Culture Requirement (6 CHs): All BA students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to complete either (i) the Foreign Language option or (ii) the Foreign Culture option, in either case with grades of C or higher.

TAKE 8 HOURS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE

• Select one two-course sequence of Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Latin, or American Sign Language.
• The first course in each of the two-course sequences is typically offered in the fall; the second course in each of the two-course sequences is typically offered in the spring.
• To determine whether to enroll in the first or the second course of the two-course French or Spanish sequences, incoming students with prior experience in French or Spanish must take a placement exam. Students who place above the beginning level will satisfy the Foreign Language option by earning a "C" or better in the second French or second Spanish course into which they have placed.
• Students who complete a 3000-level French or Spanish course with a "C" or above have demonstrated the mastery that is required in the two-course French or Spanish sequence and may request retroactive credit for the sequence. The retroactive credit will either be 3 or 6 credits, depending on their placement following the exam.
• This policy applies to Chinese as well, placement being determined by the professor of the program.

FC Foreign Culture Option

• Students who successfully completed 2 years of foreign language in high school have the option of taking 6 hours of foreign culture courses instead of 8 hours of college level foreign language.
• Foreign cultures contain (FC) in the course title.
• A complete list of foreign culture courses can be found in the Arts & Sciences Advising Office.